Sociology Plus
Post-Materialist Values Definition
Post-materialist values refer to a fundamental shift in societal priorities, moving away from an exclusive focus on material necessities and physical security towards more abstract concerns such as quality of life, self-actualisation, and personal fulfilment. This concept posits that as societies achieve greater levels of prosperity, the emphasis of human values changes, reflecting a universal tendency where stability and affluence lead people to prioritise non-material goods over purely economic well-being.
Origins and Theoretical Basis
The idea of this value shift was developed from earlier hierarchical models of human needs, notably Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Post-materialist values suggest that once basic material needs are met, societal focus naturally transitions to higher-order psychological and existential concerns.
The Culture Shift Thesis
Robert Inglehart’s seminal work, particularly his analysis presented in the 1990 study on the ‘Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society’, provides empirical support for this thesis. Inglehart observed that prosperity does not simply increase material wealth but fundamentally alters what people value, shifting focus from tangible material concerns to intangible concepts like quality of life. This trend is not limited to affluent societies but is observed across various global contexts, including First, Second, and Third World societies.
Significance for Social Science
The recognition of post-materialist values has significant implications for the social sciences. If this shift is accepted as a universal tendency driven by societal development, it suggests that existing behavioural models which heavily concentrate on socio-economic class and purely economic metrics may become less relevant in explaining human behaviour. The focus must broaden to incorporate psychological and quality-of-life dimensions alongside traditional economic analysis.